Last week, we packed up the mouthpieces, loaded up the trumpets, and headed north to the International Trumpet Guild Conference at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York.
Like every ITG conference, we expected to see great performances, hear inspiring presentations, and reconnect with friends from across the trumpet world. And we did!
What always surprises me, though, is how much the conference reminds me why we do what we do.
Over the course of a few days, we met players at every stage of their musical journey. Some were middle school and high school students attending their very first conference. Some were college students preparing for auditions and careers. Others were seasoned professionals, teachers, military musicians, and longtime friends we've known for decades.
What they all had in common was a passion for music and a desire to become better than they were yesterday.
At our booth, hundreds of conversations took place. Players tested mouthpieces, tried instruments, compared ideas, shared stories, and asked questions. Some arrived knowing exactly what they wanted. Others were searching for answers. Many simply wanted to talk about music.
Those conversations are the best part of ITG.
It's easy in manufacturing to focus on products, specifications, materials, tools, machines, and processes. Those things do matter. We spend countless hours designing, machining, testing, assembling, and refining every mouthpiece and instrument we build.
But conferences like ITG remind us that our work is ultimately about people.
Every trumpet we build and every mouthpiece we make becomes part of someone's musical story. It might help a student prepare for their first audition. It might help a professional perform on stage with greater confidence. It might simply make practicing more enjoyable.
The products matter because the players matter.
One of the greatest gifts of the conference was reconnecting with old friends. Many relationships in the trumpet community span decades. Some began as teachers and students. Others began through performances, ensembles, or chance meetings at conferences years ago. Every year, ITG becomes a reunion of people connected by a shared love of music.
At the same time, we met many players who were discovering Pickett Brass and Blackburn Trumpets for the first time. Seeing someone experience one of our products for the first time never gets old. Their excitement reminds us that there are still new relationships to build and new musicians to serve.
As we returned to Lexington, we brought home more than just orders, notes, and ideas. We returned with a renewed appreciation for the trumpet community and the responsibility we have to support it.
To everyone who stopped by our booth, played an instrument, tested a mouthpiece, shared a story, or simply said hello—thank you.
Your musical journey is what inspires ours.
We'll see you next year here in Lexington, Kentucky!
